Drugs | Treatment of corns

Drugs

Drugs used to treat a corn usually aim to soften the skin of the affected area and thus prepare the corn for removal. To soften the skin, acidic active ingredients such as salicylic acid or lactic acid are diluted and applied in drop form. In addition to the medication, a warm footbath can help to soften the skin additionally.

The drugs are available in pharmacies and can therefore be used for self-medication. However, a longer therapy with the active ingredients is not recommended. In order to follow the treatment and to be able to intervene if necessary, it is recommended to have the treatment carried out by a doctor or chiropodist. Especially people with illnesses that make the healing of wounds on the foot difficult are recommended to undergo therapy under supervision.

Remove

The actual removal of the chicken eye is best achieved when the formed horny layers are soft. To soften them, a foot bath can be recommended in addition to plasters and drops, which are available in pharmacies. However, if the corn is so large and deep that these products are not sufficient, professional treatment by a doctor or chiropodist may be necessary.

After soaking in water, the corn can be removed by the trained eye with a sharp scalpel or other medical tool. If the corns are particularly deep, several sessions may be necessary before the corn can be completely removed. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to completely remove the corn and prevent further corns from appearing at the site.

Home remedies

Important in the treatment of corns is both the direct therapy of the corn itself and the treatment of the causes that could have led to it. It is therefore of no use to remove the corn and to continue to use the same shoes, for example, because recurrence (relapse) is pre-programmed.In order to eliminate the cause of the problem, shoes that are too tight should not be worn. Soft cotton socks, pressure-relieving insoles in shoes or footwear made of soft materials can also lead to a reduction in pressure.

In addition, regular washing and creaming of the feet can also help to make the skin more resistant. If a foot malposition is the cause of corns, insoles can also be used here. However, these should be adjusted by an orthopedic surgeon if possible.

Occasionally occurring and smaller corns can be treated with the necessary care, even independently and without consulting a doctor. It is helpful to relieve the pressure a few days to weeks before the removal in order to make the corn smaller and softer. Afterwards, the corn can be carefully rubbed off with pumice stone, if possible in several sessions.

There are some home remedies that can help to remove corn in the early stages in self-therapy. All home remedies are used to soften the skin and then make the removal of the corn possible. In general, it should be ensured that the surrounding skin is spared during the actual removal and that no wounds occur.

As pointed objects are often used during the removal, with which the skin around the corn can be very damaged, wounds often occur, which can lead to infections in individual cases. The treatment of corns with household remedies is only useful if the softening of the skin is sufficient to remove the corn relatively easily. Warm foot baths help to soften the affected area.

The addition of different oils can help to speed up the process somewhat. After about 20-30 minutes the skin should be sufficiently softened to be able to remove small corns carefully. The use of onions, lemon juice, and salt is another well-known home remedy that can be used to soften the affected area.

It is possible to crush aspirin tablets and mix them with lemon juice. The mixture can be applied to the corn and helps to soften the skin. This household remedy is similar to the drugs available in pharmacies, as they contain salicylic acid, just like aspirin.